To Sulfate or not to Sulfate

That is the shower-beauty question.  In most over the counter shampoo products the cleaning agent "Sodium Laureth Sulfate" exists.  Next to water, it is the second most used ingredient in a majority of over the counter shampoo brands such as Herbal Essences and Pantene.  It is a low-cost and adequate foaming agent.  Don’t get me wrong, I used to love using these brands’ hair products.  Most Dove shampoos and conditioners left my locks feeling uber soft and silky.  Let me share a short story of my discovery of Sulfate-Free products...

Years ago, I had a friend who was very conscious of what she fed her hair.  She would periodically consult with a beautician and soon her hair began to shine more.  It was a small change to others, but one that I noticed more from being around her everyday.  I asked what made the change and she described her experience of Sulfate-Free shampoos, conditioners, and heat protectants.  I was amazed.  I was even more blown away when I saw the price! The average price of Sulfate-Free shampoos are typically around $15.00.  As a high school student, this was just a little out of my price range.  I would be using that money towards school supplies, lunches, and a prom ticket rather than beauty products.  Then I asked how one can notice the difference between Sulfate-Free and Sulfate shampoos.  She shared a trick with me:  Take about an inch-thick piece of your hair (dry) and run a comb down the strands.  After a few times of running it through you’ll notice small white flecks left behind on the comb.  Essentially that is wax from the Sodium Laureth Sulfate agent left behind on your strands.

Eventually I began to save my money and finally bought a set of Sulfate-Free products.  Results were not present within the first two weeks.  My hair is naturally wavy, so the hot flatiron and curler are always plugged in and ready to go.  Most days the end of my hair strands felt dry as if they would snap off, ugh!  But soon, after a full month, my hair began to feel very soft--even after using heated hair tools.  I mean really soft!  I was so impressed.  It felt healthier too!  I remember showing my mother and sister; I insisted they touch the godly softness of my locks!  Without styling my hair, the healthy feeling continued.  It felt less heavy and more free-flowing.

Now, I’m not saying you should go out and spend large amounts of cash on high end products that are Sulfate-Free.  From my own experience though (and opinions from others), I truly recommend it.  
Especially if:

1.  You use excessive amounts of heat on your hair and style it on a daily basis

2.  Color/Dye it often (more than twice a year)

Shampoos that contain Sodium Laureth Sulfate can fade dyed hair over time.  Some people have also experienced dried and irritated scalps from using these cleaning agents.  It comes down to your preference and lifestyle.  Personally, I've been using Sulfate-Free shampoos and heating protectants for more than a year and my hair has been thanking me every single day.  Currently I'm using Rusk’s Deep-shine Color Repair (Sulfate-Free Shampoo) and AG Hair Cosmetic’s Firewall Argan Flat Iron Spray (Sulfate-Free).  Both have been in use for more than half a year and so far--I’m loving it!

If any of you are interested in more reviews of specific Sulfate-Free products then please make a request (leave it in the comments).  If we get enough then we’ll test drive a few and write about our experiences.

The Beauty Blender - Worth the Hype?

The Beauty Blender - Makeup Sponge

     For the longest time I held off on buying the Beauty Blender... I mean c'mon... It's a makeup sponge.  I never thought to use the cheap, white and prism-like ones before anyway.  I thought, "Why would this be any different?"  Since the initial hype of the product, I decided to purchase a cheap one from T.J. Maxx... Worst sponge ever.  I don't know if it was the specific one I had purchased but it did nothing for my foundation.  If anything it made it worse!  It absorbed far too much product and blended horribly.  No bueno.  After that experience I was turned off from cosmetic sponges... But not for long. 

     One day I was watching a YouTube video (hollyannaeree) and she stated that there was a discount code for the makeup website, www.beauty.com.  Of course, being the makeup junkie that I am, I had to see what kind of products the website had to offer and I saw the Beauty Blenders.  I thought, "Why not? Maybe they are worth the hype..."  I went a ahead and purchased the two pack with the cleanser. 

(Image from http://www.beautybay.com/)

     Originally it would have cost me around $39.95 (plus free shipping over $25!), but since I had the 20% off coupon I was able to get it for $31.96!  Well, it's not a significant difference, but hey... I'm a college student, so I'll take all the discounts I can get!  I thought it was a great deal considering the cost of one beauty blender is $19.95 and one bottle of cleanser is $9.95.  I basically got an extra one for free, score! 

     Now, onto the actual product itself... The most important part!  I had to do my research on this product just to make sure I would be using it correctly... I didn't want to ruin a $20 sponge. After watching a few tutorial videos and familiarizing myself with how to use, clean and take care of the Beauty Blender, I finally used it.  And the verdict?

I LOVED IT!

Totally worth all of the hype!

     I use the Beauty Blender for all my liquids (foundation and concealer) because it smooths out the liquids without making it look extremely thick.  When wetting the sponge (very important), the moisture works so well with my liquid foundation; it blends like a dream. 

Left: Wet with Water     Right: Dry

(Both images from http://kimiyajoon.com/2013/04/10/beauty-blender-vs-sonia-kashuk-blender/) 

It gives me a natural look that I couldn't get with any brush and the coverage is fantastic.  Brushes can absorb and waste a lot of product.  With that being said, if you have really sensitive/acne prone skin you will need to clean this after every use.  It can become unsanitary if you go without washing it after multiple uses.  I believe it can lessen the longevity of the Beauty Blender too.  I've had it for a few weeks now and the sponge is still working wonderfully (as I would except a $20 sponge should) and hopefully will continue for many more months.  I will make sure to update you all when I feel like it's time to swap out for a new Beauty Blender sponge.  Hopefully not anytime soon! 

If you have no idea, like I did, on how to use the Beauty Blender Sponge then follow the steps below provided by Sephora.

     What do you all think of the Beauty Blender?  Do you think it's worth the hype?  Let us know below!  We would love to hear your opinion.

           ♥

Welcome to Our Page!

We thought it would be great to give you all a small introduction about ourselves and what our blog will soon become.  As you can see from our title we’re two young women, Liberty and Allyanna, and we both attend the same University--that’s how we met! It’s funny, because we’re on opposite ends of the degree spectrum, Business and Anthropology. However, that doesn’t mean we don’t share the same interests in all things health, hair and beauty related topics.  

And this is how it all began... One very sunny afternoon, sipping on our Starbucks© sweet teas, we were discussing our history with cosmetic and hair products.  Suddenly, a bright smile appeared on Liberty’s face and she asked, “Why don’t we start a blog?  Share our thoughts with the rest of the world!”  Allyanna thought this was a fantastic idea!  Unfortunately, our finals were only a few weeks away.  So we had to put a halt on the creativity train and wait until summer began. 

Welp!  Summer has arrived and we’re super stoked to start sharing reviews, tips and tricks, thoughts, and more.  We hope it will spark an interest in you! So please make sure to subscribe and we’re open to feedback/comments.

P.S.  Check out our links to Instagram and Twitter!  Please be gentle, they’re new accounts.